In a brand new lecture created specifically for Ring 280, Christopher T. Magician shares his insights and methods for creating laugh-out-loud comedy magic. Along with techniques for creating kid show comedy and stand-up adult comedy, all guaranteed to leave audiences in hysterics, Christopher shares some of his all-time favorite comedy routines he's honed in almost two decades of performing. Join him on a journey to becoming More Funny.

For the seventh year, magic returns to the Festival of Trees. Children, as well as adults, will enjoy the magic and illusions in the beautiful Festival of Trees setting. Doors open at 6 p.m. for an hour of close-up magic acts, followed by a family-friendly, professional-quality stage show featuring members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, KIDabra and the world famous Magic Castle at 7 p.m. Both shows will feature a series of magical stories, intertwined with the spirit of the season. The show’s finale will produce a special guest.

There will NOT be a Ring meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8th! Instead, please join us (along with your families) on Sunday, Dec. 11th from 5-8 pm for our annual Ring 280 Holiday Party! The event will include food and drinks provided by both the Ring and Ring members, music, gifts and treats for the kids, games, prizes, and… MAGIC, of course! Please contact us for location and more details.

For the sixth year, magic returns to the Festival of Trees. Children, as well as adults, will enjoy the magic and illusions in the beautiful Festival of Trees setting. Doors open at 6 p.m. for an hour of close-up magic acts, followed by a family-friendly, professional-quality stage show featuring members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, KIDabra and the world famous Magic Castle at 7 p.m. Both shows will feature a series of magical stories, intertwined with the spirit of the season. The show’s finale will produce a special guest.

Brian Hoffmanbrian.i.hoffman@gmail.commartinlewislectureseptember820162http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/63528594082445610182016-04-03T14:10:07.529Z2016-04-03T14:12:32.815Z2016-04-03T14:12:28.235ZDana Daniels Lecture in April

Award-winning magician and comedian Dana Daniels will share his insights, stories, and tips with Ring 280 members and guests at this month’s regularly scheduled meeting on April 14th. Best known for performing with his feathered partner, Luigi the Psychic Parrot, Dana has also received raves for his hilarious “The No Show,” where he portrays a slightly clueless janitor who ends up playing multiple roles as he attempts to cover for missing variety show performers.

Dana Daniels was born and raised in Long Beach, California, and was a member of the illustrious “Long Beach Mystics” club, which also produced such magic luminaries as Kevin James, Stan Allen, Mike Caveney, Mark Kalin, and Michael Weber. Daniels was the very first magician to receive the Comedy Magician of the year award from the Magic Castle, where he often appears when he is not performing for the management and top sales people for major corporations such as McDonald’s and Lincoln Financial. He has made many television appearances, including Evening at the Improv, CBS Morning Show, Masters of Illusion, and America’s Got Talent, and has opened for such stars as Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Jan & Dean, and Charo.

Ring 280 is excited to host what should be a very enjoyable and humorous evening with Dana … with ample opportunities to ask questions and learn from a true master of comedy magic. Ring 280 members who have already renewed their 2016-2017 memberships (or who pay their renewal dues prior to the start of the lecture) will be able to attend for free! Admission will be $5 for current non-renewed Ring 280 members, and $10 for non-Ring 280 member attendees.

For the fifth year, magic returns to the Festival of Trees. Children, as well as adults, will enjoy the magic and illusions in the beautiful Festival of Trees setting. Doors open at 6 p.m. for an hour of close-up magic acts, followed by a family-friendly, professional-quality stage show featuring members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the world famous Magic Castle at 7 p.m. Both shows will feature a series of magical stories, intertwined with the spirit of the season. The show’s finale will produce a special guest.

Once again IBM Ring 280 will be performing magic at Santa Clarita’s Day for Kids. 2015 marks the eight year Ring 280 has volunteered at this event.

Day for Kids: Every year, Americans celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day, and even Groundhog Day. The City of Santa Clarita thinks it's time to honor children by celebrating a "Day for Kids." Families in Santa Clarita will enjoy a free kids' carnival, open to the public, on Saturday, September 19th, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at Newhall Park.

Ring 280 will be producing two Holiday Hocus Pocus Magic Shows at this year's Festival of Trees.

The shows will take place on Saturday, November 15 and Friday, November 21.

Doors open at 6pm for close-up magic, followed by a 7pm stage show.

Tickets only $10

Location 24700 Avenue Rockefeller, in the Valencia Industrial Center.

Keep your eye on this website for updates.

Brian Hoffmanbrian.i.hoffman@gmail.comholidayhocuspocus20142http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/5295676391740096122014-09-19T15:58:54.096Z2014-09-19T15:58:54.098Z2014-09-19T15:58:54.092Z2014 Day for Kids: September 20

2014 Day for Kids

September 20

12pm-5pm Newhall Park

Once again IBM Ring 280 will be performing magic at Santa Clarita’s Day for Kids. 2014 marks the seventh year Ring 280 has volunteered at this event.

Day for Kids: Every year, Americans celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day, and even Groundhog Day. The City of Santa Clarita thinks it's time to honor children by celebrating a "Day for Kids." Families in Santa Clarita will enjoy a free kids' carnival, open to the public, on Saturday, September 20th, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at Newhall Park.

The International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 280 will once again be performing at SCV's Touch-A-Truck 2014.

Come support this wonderful event and be sure to stop by and say hi!

IBMRing280ibmring280@gmail.comtouch-a-truckjune1420141http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/30832501263111651042013-12-04T18:27:42.122Z2013-12-04T18:27:42.128Z2013-12-04T18:27:42.116ZTwo Holiday Hocus Pocus Shows at the Festival of Trees This Year

Brian Hoffmanbrian.i.hoffman@gmail.comtwoholidayhocuspocusshowsatthefestivaloftreesthisyear1http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/22173828062213193082013-08-19T17:23:21.343Z2013-08-29T16:13:26.283Z2013-08-29T16:13:25.003Z2013 Day for Kids: September 21

2013 Day for Kids

September 21

12pm-5pm Newhall Park

Once again IBM Ring 280 will be performing magic at Santa Clarita’s Day for Kids. 2013 marks the sixth year Ring 280 has volunteered at this event.

Day for Kids: Every year, Americans celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day, and even Groundhog Day. The City of Santa Clarita thinks it's time to honor children by celebrating a "Day for Kids." Families in Santa Clarita will enjoy a free kids' carnival, open to the public, on Saturday, September 21st, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at Newhall Park.

To sign up, please email Brian@ibmring280.com. You can spend the whole day with us, or just part of it.

Brian Hoffmanbrian.i.hoffman@gmail.comannouncingthering280robertbaxtlecture2http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/52880282200631859622013-06-06T18:30:47.931Z2013-07-30T16:08:10.619Z2013-07-30T16:08:09.624ZI.B.M. Ring 280 to Support the SCV Touch-A-Truck

Santa Clarita, CA, May 21, 2013 — The International
Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) – Ring 280 will provide magical entertainment
at the SCV Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Central Park. Magicians will perform parlor-style magic as
well as strolling, close-up magic.

“Ring 280 has a rich history of public service in support of
charitable fundraising in the Santa Clarita area,” said Brian Hoffman, vice
president, I.B.M. Ring 280.“We are
excited about participating in this unique, inaugural event.”

SCV Touch-A-Truck is a family-friendly fundraiser that gives
kids a chance to get up close with all sorts of vehicles, from sports cars and
police vehicles, to movie cars and construction machines. With exhibitors, live music and food vendors
rounding it out, Touch-A-Truck is a fun afternoon outing that also raises
support for the SCV Senior Center.

I.B.M. is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the
art of magic, with members in 88 countries.
Local branches of the I.B.M., known as rings, meet each month in
hundreds of locations.

Ring 280 is the Santa Clarita, California chapter of I.B.M.It was founded in 1998 by a group of local
magicians, and was named the Mark Wilson Ring in honor of the legendary
illusionist, who currently resides in Valencia.The Ring provides an opportunity for magicians of all skill levels to
learn the history of the magical art, improve their skills as performers, and
share their talents through community service. The group meets monthly at the
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley.

Brian Hoffmanbrian.i.hoffman@gmail.comibmring280tosupportthescvtouch-a-truck2http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/61274765802388204862013-05-10T23:11:47.323Z2013-05-10T23:11:47.327Z2013-05-10T23:11:47.320ZMark and Nani Wilson at our May meeting.

We were honored to once again have Mark and Nani Wilson at our meeting last night. Not only did they come by to congratulate the new officers, but Mark taught everyone an awesome card trick. Mark had everyone in stitches. His humor and wit along with his magic knowledge is always very entertaining and memorable.

Brian Hoffmanbrian.i.hoffman@gmail.commarkandnaniwilsonatourmaymeeting1http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/35081710177299763272013-05-01T17:05:03.430Z2013-05-01T17:07:24.711Z2013-05-01T17:07:23.002ZIce McDonald to Lecture in June

IBM Ring 280 is excited to announce Ice McDonald will belecturing at our June meeting.

Brian Hoffmanbrian.i.hoffman@gmail.comicemcdonaldtolectureinjune2http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/ibmring280/42886655242402328992013-05-01T16:41:24.950Z2013-05-01T16:41:24.957Z2013-05-01T16:41:24.944ZA Message from our New President

Hello to all. I first want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as president of IBM Ring 280 for the upcoming year.

By way of quick introduction, I have been a proponent of magic for most of my life. I was a member of IBM Ring 21 in the early 70s, and became a member of the Magic Castle in 1978. I have performed in a variety of magic venues, with close-up magic becoming my primary interest. I have been a featured performer in the Close-up Gallery of the Magic Castle since 1999. Some of my tricks and ideas have since been published in magic magazines, periodicals, and books. I have also lectured for IBM and SAM on my original creations.

Outside of magic, I am a Vietnam veteran, and have held a professional career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena for the past 30 years, working as a senior systems engineer and engineering manager.

And I’d say that’s enough about me for now, other than adding that I am very excited about my new opportunity to help shape the upcoming year for Ring 280. I strongly believe that people join magic clubs and attend meetings for the purpose of making like-minded friends, for learning, and for becoming better magicians. Within our club, we have years of knowledge and experience in many aspects of magic. I believe that we can harness those resources to share our collective knowledge and experience within the club. We each have something to offer and something to gain.

I recently met with the board to discuss some subtle changes to the upcoming meetings that will allow more time for members to interact, become better acquainted, and to share and talk about magic. Along with the standard performance opportunities that we already enjoy, I plan to coordinate workshops where we can focus in on various areas of interest, as well as develop and sharpen our acts. Think about what you would like to learn about and what you can share….

Good meeting attendance will be key to strengthening our club and getting the most out of it. Certainly, during the summer months, some of us will be away on family vacations, etc. However, once we get the ball rolling, we will elevate the overall level of magic and fun. After all, that's what it is all about.

Until further notice, the Ring 280 newsletter has been discontinued. Unfortunately, the editors decided that our time is better spend sending messages via Twitter and Facebook. If you would like the latest updates, please check back later... further information can be found at the bottom of this post.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the 2013 Pacific Coast Association of Magicians Convention, otherwise known as PCAM, which is set for August 1st through 4th at the Burbank Marriott! They have a great lineup of lecturers and performers (Shawn Farquhar, Howard Hamburg, Paul Green, Max Maven, David Gabbay, Tim Mannix, Ice McDonald, Trevor and Lorena, and many more), fantastic contests, a dealers' room, jam room, and more. Additional information and announcements are coming, but to get your registration at its lowest cost, register now via the PCAM Facebook page or on their website!

Note: Early registration has been extended through March 1st (only $150), so you've still got time to save some money!

Last year, IBM Ring 280 attempted to launch a Santa Clarita chapter of Ring 280 Youth. The group never really had a chance to take off. We believe one of the challenges was the day of the week we tried having the meetings on – our normal Thursday meeting. For the re-launch, we will be meeting on the second Saturday of the month.

The first meeting will be held on Saturday, January 12th, from 10am-12pm at the Boys and Girls Club in Newhall (our regular meeting location).

This program is an excellent opportunity for young people to develop and hone their magic skills, as well as a chance for Ring 280 members to pass along our extensive wealth of knowledge and experience with this incredibly rewarding art form. The program is intended for youth ages 7-18, so if you know any kids who might be interested, please invite them.

To have a better idea of how many to expect, please RSVP to info@ibmring280.com.

The 6th annual magic show is organized by the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 280.

For the second year, the show returns to the Festival of Trees. A series of magical stories, intertwined with the spirit of the season, will delight audiences. Children, as well as adults, will enjoy the magic and illusions in the beautiful Festival of Trees setting. The show's finale will produce a very special guest.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for an hour of close-up magic acts, followed by a family-friendly, professional-quality stage show featuring eight incredible performers at 7 p.m.

Time: 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Festival of Trees at Westfield Valencia Town Center (between The Patios and Sears)

Tickets: $10 per person (Age 2 and under free). Tickets available online, in advance at the Festival, at the Club, and at the door.

The 10th Annual Festival of TreesThe Festival of Trees is a fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley. A visit to the Festival is a great way to kick-off the holiday season. Not only can you view the many beautiful and elaborately decorated trees which are available for purchase, but you can also purchase small tabletop trees, holiday wreaths, stockings and charming one-of-a-kind gingerbread houses. Large trees range in height from six to nine feet and many come with gifts including furniture, event tickets, wine, jewelry and more.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO